Nicholas Bachalard and Ryan Curatolo celebrated their first classic prize in the UAE.
The Jebel Ali Stables trainer-jockey combined to win the UAE 2000 Guineas with Mouheeb in the Dubai World Cup Carnival Week 3 at Meydan racecourse on Thursday.
It came on a sad day for sport in the region with the news that UAE racing pioneer Pat Buckley, who played an integral part in the formation of the Dubai World Cup, had passed away at the age of 77.
Curatolo, on Mouheeb, tracked the leaders before getting up close to home to win by a neck from Salem bin Ghadayer’s Meshakel with Godolphin’s Naval Crown third.
The French jockey was confident the American bred Flatter colt, who went down to Godolphin's Rebel Romance by a short head in the Trial three weeks ago, could catch the runaway leaders on the home stretch.
“It’s a long [home] stretch,” the Frenchman said when asked if he was confident at any point in the race.
“He changed the legs at the right time, put his head down, and you know, he’s a fighter.”
Secret Ambition made it third time lucky in the Group 3 Firebreak Stakes in the race that was marred by a fatal fall of Matterhorn.
Satish Seemar’s eight-year-old son of Exceed And Excel under Tadhg O’Shea kicked for home from 600m to win from Hypothetical by three and three quarter lengths.
“He deserves a big day and thankfully he got it tonight,” O’Shea said of the winner.
“He has been a good horse for many seasons. He’s run in top company all the time. My only concern was Matterhorn but unfortunately something sadly went wrong with him.”
Seemar completed a double when Richard Mullen brought home Topper Bill 35 minutes later for the Intrinsic gelding to complete back-to-back Carnival victories.
Pat Dobbs brought up his 250thh winner in the UAE steering Doug Watson’s Canvassed in the silks of Sheikh Mohammed Obaid to victory in the opening 1,200m handicap.
Godolphin bagged two prizes on the night. Saeed bin Suroor and Frankie Dettori took the second race with Dubai Future while Charlie Appleby and William Buick were successful with Man Of Promise in the concluding Listed handicap.
